Area Teen's Bagging Skills Reign Supreme in ShopRite Contest

A Warren County teenager is celebrating his page in supermarket history. Eric Kay, 18, of Mansfield, won first place in the 25th annual Best Bagger competition, held at the Mansfield ShopRite this month, the Star-Ledger reported. Last year, he came third in the contest.

Kay surpassed 21 other contestants representing ShopRite stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland by filling three canvas bags with 29 items in a mere 29.91 seconds. In doing so, the hometown boy became the first bagger from the Mansfield market employee to win the prize, the article said.

Kay has worked at the Shop Rite since 2011. His winnings include a new iPad and a trip to Las Vegas for the February 2014 national grocery bagging competition that boasts a $10,000 top prize. Previous winners have been invited to appear on CBS' 'Late Show with David Letterman' too, so the fast-packing teen may have a shot at being on television, the article continued. 

Fun fact: When David Letterman was a student at Broad Ripple High in Indianapolis, he worked as a grocery bagger, so it's anyone's guess where this win could take Kay. Check out the YouTube video to see Dave taking on last year's bagging champ Andrew Borracchini.